femina, noun

/ˈfemɪnə/
Plurals:
unchanged, or feminas.
Origin:
LatinShow more Latin, ‘woman’.
Ostrich-farming
Usually plural. The long greyish feathers taken from the wing-tip of a hen ostrich. Also attributive. See also wing.
1877 De Mosenthal & Harting Ostriches & Ostrich Farming 226Boos — Dark femina..Spadones. White and Light femina.
c1881 A. Douglass Ostrich Farming 93A process has been discovered by which the natural colouring of our femina and fancy-coloured feathers can be extracted.
1896 R. Wallace Farming Indust. of Cape Col. 235White and light Femina were very firm. Dark femina, 5s. and 10s. per lb. higher...‘White’ refers to the long pure wing feathers of the male bird, ‘Femina’ indicating the corresponding plumage of the female, hence the name.
1909 J.E. Duerden in Agric. Jrnl of Cape of G.H. XXXIV. 523Feminas..are the wing-quills of the hen bird which correspond with the whites of the cock...Distinguished by having a..greyish appearance..they are classed according to the amount of pigment as tipped, light or dark.
1932 Grocott’s Daily Mail 14 Jan. 3Feminas: Superior, now offered; good average, 15/- to 20/-.
Usually plural. The long greyish feathers taken from the wing-tip of a hen ostrich. Also attributive.
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Latin
fees, nounn.fencing stick, noun phrasen. phr.
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